sippin' on sunshine

VALENTINA MARIE OCHOA twenty four. medical student. aspiring pediatric oncologist werewolf of ochoa pack youngest of three single mom to 2yr old madison

[valcntinaochoa]

ZEHRA

“Here let me help you with that.” When she gave her the shot to drink, Zehra immediately got up to help zip her dress. Their night out was coming into fruition and she was patient with the whole process as she wanted Val to be comfortable and have fun. Laughing at her comment, she shook her head and declared, “Well that only means you gotta catch up!! You are not a loser—you’re a cool mom. Would a loser mom come out looking like that?…I don’t think so.” She then gave a nod of approval to both the dress and the fact that she’d down the shot. “You are beautiful!!!! And honestly if this isn’t comfortable for you, you can try on something else. That means you’ll have time to catch up with these shots!” She then went over and poured another one before offering it to her. “You’re okay though right?! With going out?” Brown orbs softened, almost as if she was giving Val a puppy-eyed look. “I mean…I totally understand if you wanna…stay home…I just really, really thought you needed the break…You’re one of the hardest working women I know and you deserve this!” 

An appreciative smile formed on her rose tinted lips as the other woman helped her, taking a small moment to adjust the way the dress settled after fully being zipped all the way. But she really couldn’t let her worries overtake her when she was in the same room as someone that she trusted. Had it been anyone else? Valentina would have just stopped then and there. “Catch up to who, Zey? --You make it sound like I’m trying to become a MILF and I’m not even a quarter of a century years old yet! But I’m glad someone other than Maddie thinks I’m a cool mom.” Yet, mom mode never turned off as she wondered if Maddie had been fed and put to bed. Taking in a breath, the woman smiled earnestly as she looked in the mirror once again, “Stooop!” She whined despite the giggle on her tongue, “I think this one’s perfect. If I go off and try to pick another one, we’ll get nowhere.” Turning about, she looked at her friend as she grabbed the other shot, “I’m... okay. I wish I could stop thinkin’ about Maddie and I really want to call to check up on her but I know it defeats the point. I’m hoping the alcohol helps to stop that urge.” With that, she soon downed the other shot, face scrunching slightly as a result. “I swear to god if you keep being so sappy I’m going to just start crying and I’m not even drunk yet!”

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SAMANTHA‌

 Her brows jumped at the words from Valentina, almost fearing that situation herself. “I can promise I know that won’t happen - at least not with those teens. I think they are more afraid of not being responsible enough than missing a text.” Teasing a bit she hoped it comforted the girl even on some level. It wasn’t the first time around she was giving out numbers, kind of why she was so okay doing it. The parents were so nice too - the teenagers were far easier than the parents of little ones, irony meant there. “I heard brothers are pretty good at that, but even then you know there’s all those movies out now a days with some crazy baby sitter or nanny who just… well I’m not going to freak you out anymore.” She smiled with a faint laugh. “I’d say call Lexi she’d be my first choice. She’s a nice girl and speaks two languages - could probably get Maddie on the train with language early.” 

   Sam found herself smiling at the little girl, Maddie was sweet. At least from what she remembered in the reading lessons the girl was quiet when needed and vocal when the interactive stories were happening. “Oh goodness I think she could be Dorothy if she wanted to.” Nodding giving Maddie a small thumbs up. “It’s actually Wizard of Oz, less words and more dancing for the little ones. A few of the older kids are going to help with costumes and the good stuff you know? – Well just keep doing what your doing I think that’s what counts in the end.” 

“That’s all I needed to hear,” she told the other woman with a solid nod of the head. She was all aware of what teenagers tended to do with their free time but she couldn’t have that kind of chaotic energy around her daughter. There was a solid reason she was already prepping for when Madison turned three considering all that she had read had led her to believe that it was the worst possible year for toddlers. “God, I don’t even want to think about those movies or they’ll send me down a spiral where I have a mental breakdown. I was watching Honey I Shrunk the Kids at my family’s weekly movie night last week and all I could think of was if I was in that situation. Not that I ever would be because I don’t have a boyfriend or husband but... oof. --I’ll definitely make her my top priority because I would absolutely love for Maddie to know anything and everything possible. She’s pretty good with her English and Spanish at the moment but I feel like any other that can be thrown in is perfect.”

Gasping at the idea, Valentina looked down at her daughter who was still confused but was picking up on her mothers excitement as her little face soon turned curious with a big smile, “Dorty?” Madison questioned, hands reaching up to touch at her mothers face, the woman only giggling at how her daughter couldn’t say the name. “Yeah, honey! She’s the big important character. Everyone loves Dorothy.” With that, Madison’s gentle brown eyes garnered a twinkled as she clapped excitedly. Turning back to Sammy, she smiled gently, “That’s sounds so cute! I’m not entirely sure how she’d handle dancing considering sometimes she gets her feet all fumbled up but I feel like anything is worth trying. At least I’ll get cute pictures whatever the outcome. Especially if she gets to wear a cute little costume since I can’t wait for Halloween to see her in another.”

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ALEXIOS‌

Not even entirely whether he wanted children or not, Alexios held back on his sharp tongue and a stupid comment that was about to ensure. “She’s only three, Valentina, eighteen is a long way away. Relax and enjoy it before she turns into a moody, teenage girl like the rest of them.” He chuckled in amusement, shoving his hands into his dark jacket pockets. “Damn it.” He hissed in disappointment, really wanting to know what was going on, though he did raise an eyebrow at the younger werewolf, “You ain’t lying to me, are you, V?” Maybe she knew more than she was letting on, a wolf could always draw out a liar. He wasn’t even going to do anything with this information! Just curiosity. 

"She’s two... turning three,” she corrected the man across from her since she wasn’t going to just accept that another year had gone and passed until it came and she was helping Madison blow out her candles. “Is that all you saw when you were a teenager? ‘Cause I was actually a very sweet and caring teenage who didn’t give my parents the least bit of trouble. My older siblings, however, maybe.” Moving herself slightly, the younger werewolf only walked over to the wall and placed the tip of her sneaker against the red brick, not quite making eye contact as she watched him from her peripheral. “What would there be to lie about? I’ve told you what I know and it’s something that you can either choose to believe or simply ignore it like you never heard it, Alexios. I can’t control your thoughts. ‘Sides, if I was lying, what would you even do? Get grouchy?”

[valcntinaochoa]

ZEHRA

LOCATION: val’s home

TIME: evening

STATUS: closed for @valcntinaochoa​​

They should have been studying, but Zehra being the voice of ‘reason’ had to convince Valentina otherwise. It seemed long overdue and it’s not all the time that she was bothering the mother to veer of course. It was just that, she found it to be about time they do something fun for once. Therefore, the two were currently getting ready at Val’s place for their night out. Zey suggested attending Hysteria for a night of dancing and drinking. Although, it seemed as if she’d already started as she held out a shot towards her friend. “Val…I feel as if I had way more than you.” whined Zehra as she gave her a pout. “—Anyways…ouu…Yes mama…That has to be the dress you need to wear!!! It shows off your curves and you look hot as shit.” 

Fiddling with the zipper on her dress, Valentina couldn’t exactly remember the last time that she had gone out of her home at night unless it was for things that she couldn’t quite talk about with Zehra. She stuck to her rigid schedule of studying, taking care of Madison slash being the best mom in the world as well as somehow making sure that her fathers shop didn’t implode on itself with his horrible organizational skills. Safe to say, she was nervous to even go to Hysteria but... a part of her was also excited which was why she’d agreed when Zehra had offered. But it was also hard to say no to Zey. “That’s probably because you have had more than me ‘cause I’m still in loser mom mode,” she joked, pulling her hair out from the back of her dress as she looked down at the shot glass, simply taking it in her hand as she continued to examine the dress in the mirror, “D’you think so?” Why did she find that so hard to believe, “I literally feel like the last time that I wore a dress like this was the night I got pregnant and that feels like eighty four years go. I’ve kind of forgotten how hard they make it to breathe.” As the memory resurfaced, Valentina subconsciously downed the shot without even much thought.

[valcntinaochoa]

ALEXIOS‌

“What can I say?” He chuckled in amusement, placing his hand on his chest before making a quick cross sign, “I’m a good son of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen and all of that.” He grinned considering he wasn’t remotely religious and very much took part in the world of sinful activities and substances. “You say that, but every parent seems to moan on and on about time flying or something shit like that.” The thought of being a dad was something he hoped to be one day when he could figure out how to be a sensible person. but until then the foster child within Alexios had managed to stop him from being a deadbeat dad. His worst nightmare. “Oh, come on, that’s bor– wait… they are?” His eyes widened gleefully considering he loved gossip, eager to find out more. “With who?”

Raising a brow, Valentina didn’t at all hide the fact that she found his statement amusing considering she was only responding to it with a laugh. “Oh, totally, amen and all that,” she mocked with a simple shake of the head. Valentina wasn’t religious either but that didn’t mean she didn’t respect the church or god since her parents had taught her to since childhood. “Okay, but it’s also kind of true! It feels like yesterday that I was finding out that I was pregnant and now my baby is about to turn three. I just can’t think of her any older than this or I’ll have an anxiety attack. She’s my baby!” But the werewolf female was clingy when it came to her daughter so it would always outweigh everything around her. Realizing she had said too much, Valentina’s brows raised as she tried to backtrack, “You act as if I know who my sibling spends their time sleeping with. I just know that they’re sleeping with someone and they make it a bit obvious that it’s someone not in our pack. I mean... I can see the whole appeal of sleeping with someone from a rival pack and all but...” she trailed off, shoulders shrugging in an attempt to switch the subject. Failing unfortunately.

[valcntinaochoa]

SAMANTHA‌

  “I’d offer if you really need it, but kids typically need the money.” Letting out a small laugh, the girl was grossly prepped for situations, digging into her bag she pulled out the small notepad, going through her phone at the same time to pull up the numbers. “Fliers make me so nervous - thinking anyone could reply to them. I found the best way is through other parents or referrals. Tends to be safer - not that I have kids.” Another faint laugh escaped her, sticking out the small piece of paper with a handful of names and numbers. “I did put the ages before the names incase you want someone a little older. They usually have more experience.”  Shrugging with a smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you too Valentina. I’m glad to hear that she’s very vocal in the readings we love interacting with the stories. We’ve got a little play coming up she’d be more than welcome to join in.” Offering, god she was sounding like some event planner or soccer mom. “Oh trust me, you’ll be a cool mom don’t even worry about it. Madison seems very easy - she’ll be great as a teenager.” 

"I can’t disagree but as long as you think that they would be responsible enough and I won’t come home to my daughter running around in only her diaper and covered in paint? I will take anyone that you can give me,” she mused with a soft chuckle but that situation had in fact happened before and she wasn’t going to let it happen again. “Trust me, they make me nervous as well! But I always try to put them in places where I know that they won’t attract any kind of creep and if I ever do interviews - which I do literally every time I try to find a babysitter - I make sure that my older brother is present since he knows how to judge others way better than I do. But you’re way better prepared than I am because when I first had Maddie, everything was overwhelmingly hard so for you it’ll be a piece of cake! If you want kids, I mean.”

Looking at the piece of paper, Valentina took it with a thankful smile on her lips and was soon sliding it into the baby bag that was underneath the cart. “That’s absolutely perfect, thank you so much!” She declared, standing herself up, listening to the small little bit about the play which sparked her interest. “Is there? That sounds so fun! What do you think, Maddie? D’you wanna be in a play? Be a little tree?” She asked her daughter who just gave Valentina a confused yet sad look and said, “But I don’t wanna be a tree, mommy.” Fixing one of her daughters bows, she soon turned to Sam once again, “What kind of play is it exactly? ---God, I hope so! Everyone keeps telling me that she’ll either be an easy one or be the hardest one ever and I... don’t know how to prep for either option.”

[valcntinaochoa]

ALEXIOS‌

“I am not!” Alexios placed his hand where his hand would be, in faux offence, “… It’s six, I have Sundays off.” That was a bit of an exaggeration, he did like to indulge in the sinful aspects of life but even Alexios knew how to pace himself… most of the time. “Oh, you’re gonna have fun when she starts puberty.” That time of a werewolf’s life really was amusing when you were no longer going through it yourself. The man soon let out a laugh of confusion, “… Val, I’m opening up my bar, how can I open up a bar chaotically? Honestly, I –… Woah, don’t get any wrong ideas, okay?” He shook his head, quick to dispel her thoughts, “I am not acting like that all. For starters, I’m trying to stay on Carmen’s good side, I don’t think they’d appreciate that very much.”

"Ooooo look at you,” she teased lightheartedly as she was corrected by the man, “Taking off on the lords day. Who would have ever thought.” Granted, Valentina knew very well that he wasn’t going to church on sundays and listening to the gospel but there was fun to be had in these situations. And quite frankly, she did this with the other alpha in town as well. “That’s literally... ages away since she’s only two, turning three in about two months. I don’t even want to think about that right now.” It terrified her, quite frankly. She wanted a good life for Madison but she didn’t know what it meant. Would she find someone new and give Maddy the dad she deserved? Would her ex-boyfriend come back and want to form a relationship with Maddy? With her? It scared her to pieces and she had... nobody to really vent to about her concerns. She just chose to act put together and move on. “That’s not what I meant, Lexi, I was talking about how yo--” she cut herself off as the conversation went elsewhere. “Trust me when I say that thinking about you really is not in my day to day schedule. Besides, I’m fairly sure Carmen is sleeping with one of your pack members so hypothetically? They couldn’t say shit. But this is all besides the original point.”

[valcntinaochoa]

LAUREL‌

❝ oh, well – - thank you ,❞ laurel tells the little girl with a stiff laugh. it’s not that laurel didn’t know how to take a compliment… actually, that was half of the problem. the other half? not knowing how to act or talk around children. either it’s too baby-ish that the parents acts as if their child is einstein or she’s way too… plain-spoken. ❝ i … like your hair. ❞ she says back to maddie and hopes that would be enough for the little girl.  ❝ and your … shoes … ! ❞ nope, that’s enough laurel. ❝ do they light up? ❞  – how embarrassing. alright, babies are beautiful. let’s start off with that. on a good point. laurel thinks all babies are wonderful gifts that people should be proud of, and show off to others at any point in their lives. like, — someone made a human being. whoever creates a human being deserves to brag. but laurel is one of those people who will be awkward around any child when she meets them. it’s not the parents fault. it’s not the babies fault. it’s all on laurel and she knows it. despite her years of babysitting - zehra mainly being, she’s always been this way. and it’s comes down to the simple fact that young children tend not to talk.  laurel has survived by talking. she’s made friends and enemies by talking. not being able to converse with a human being on a typical back and forth manner she has been so accustomed to makes her very awkward. 

laurel gives a faux gasp ; slender fingers press against pink lips before being placed against the middle of her chest. ❝ you took the last of the non-bruised banana bundle? that’s going a little bit too far, don’t you think? ❞  it’s obvious that the journalist is joking. she doesn’t even like bananas. hates them, in fact. laurel heavily rolls her eyes, ❝ i don’t blame you! she still does that? she used to do that to my cousin all the time when she was little. it was funny to watch because she never bothered me that way, but watching my cousin being tortured like that was fun.❞ laurel chuckles at the memories of mrs. wright b-lining towards zehra. ❝ i have so many stories about that woman that you wouldn’t believe. one time, my family and i found her in my mothers garden. what was she doing, you ask? a complete overhaul. i’m talking hands. in. dirt. ripping. everything. out. ❞ laurel shakes her head at the memory, crossing her arms over her chest. ❝ as a turkish woman, my mother is a keen gardener.  particularly loves carnations, lilacs and jasmines, as well as cypresses, boxwoods, and myrtles. the whole show, ❞ laurel waves a hand in the air as if it would convey how dramatic her mother was about her plants, ❝ so you do not go near the garden of eden. that is her sanctuary. i tell you, the second my mom found mrs. wright all hell broke lose, and then some … ❞

Smiling softly, Valentina was more than aware of the fact that sometimes people were caught off guard by the comments of children. She had been the type of little girl to blurt out random things as well and clearly Madison had gotten that sort of behavior from her mother. But she looked at her daughter who had a bright smile on her lips, showing off her little dimpled cheeks as she fiddled with one of her ponytails. “'ank you! Mommy did it! But I picked my bows.” She told the woman, pulling at one of the blue bows in her hair as a way of showing her. Soon, her attention fell to her shoes as she stuck out her little leg and nodded excitedly, “Mhm! Show her, mommy, show her!” At Madisons request, Valentina gently hit the girls shoe as pink and blue lights appeared on the Moana themed sneakers which made Madison giggle. Valentina just about never interrupted her daughters interactions with people because she felt like she should be allowed to be friendly and express herself to anyone who took the chance to listen. To be outspoken and carefree. It’s how her parents had raised her and her older siblings and it was exactly what she was going to do with her own child. Especially as her third birthday was rounding the corner.

As the conversation moved back to her, Valentina found herself nodding her head, “I did. And I have absolutely no shame in doing so because I refuse to eat a bruised banana. If they’re mad about it, they can stay mad.” Her words sounded serious but it was clearly hard for the woman to even keep a straight face as they slipped off her tongue. Chuckling softly, Valentina chose to settle Madison into the cart considering her arm was starting to hurt but she made sure to lean forward in case her child still wanted to be close to her. In which the answer was always yes as Madison pulled at her moms shirt and hugged her. “She does! It was always funny when she was doing it to my older siblings but... I refuse to have her do it to Madison because that could never not keep her from crying. And when she cries, it’s almost like dealing with a tornado siren.” As she stood there listening to the woman’s story, an amused grin crossing her lips considering she wasn’t the least bit surprised that Mrs. Wright didn’t have a single bit of sense when it came to personal property. “That’s horrible! Why on earth would she think that going into someone’s garden was a good idea? You’d think that she would at least ask the person first but that’s straight up crossing the line. Literally! What did your mom do?”

[valcntinaochoa]

JORDAN

LOCATION: The Daily Clip TIME: Evening TAGGING: @magnoliaspringstarters

The amount of time this one son of a bitch was taking at the concession stand made Jordan draw a sharp, inward breath of irritation. How long did it take for someone to decide they want a simple fucking popcorn and a soda? Mo-ther-fuck. The guy, having decided that much, started flip-flopping between types of candy. Not even good candy. It was stupid shit with a bunch of nuts in it.

“Really.” Jordan wondered if this guy had outright issues. “You’d think he’d step aside if he can’t make a choice. Not hog his place in it like a dumbass.”

When you were trying to watch a movie with a child, you learned the hard way that sometimes it had to be nothing but quick and go. Valentina had bought her tickets ahead of time so that she didn’t have to wait in a line but she had not accounted for the fact that people were going to be so slow when buying food. Shouldn’t there be more staff working? Where were they? Hands placed on Madison’s stroller, Val noticed the way her daughter was starting to get fussy as she kept pointing at the slushie machine with a pout and whining how she really wanted a red one. “Yo se, mi amor, une poquito mas,” she told her daughter as she scooped her up into her arms. Thankfully, Trolls World Tour wouldn’t be starting for a bit. Looking over at Jordan as she spoke, the woman only offered a small smile as she tried to cover Madison’s ears so she didn’t hear the curse words. “Or he could have just brought his own considering those are far too overpriced while the ones at the dollar store are, well, a dollar. I don’t want to be one of those momma’s who start to get snappy for taking forever but... drastic times call for drastic measures.”

[valcntinaochoa]

ALEXIOS‌

“I feel like I was just indirectly insulted in a way I don’t understand.” He chuckled softly, rolling his eyes considering the girl sure could bite back sometimes. “Well, I know where I’m going for hangover breakfasts then, huh?” Chocolate pancakes with strawberries sounded great right about now. Though, any food sounded good right now, to be honest. Seeing her grow irritated by the news, Alexios raised an eyebrow in amusement and said, “It’s when he starts his shift, Val, I can’t cha–… well that was deep? What other little secrets have you got hidden away, huh? I thought Ochoa wolves were supposed to be gentle and soft. Danced in meadows of flowers and stuff.” He snickered, resting his side against the wall. “Five is a big number, Val.”

"You said those words, not me,” she told him, raising her hands innocently in her own personal defense. Granted, Valentina wasn’t the kind to go around insulting other people but it was safe to assume that when she did, it was never actually meant in a harmful manner. “Aren’t you hungover like five days out of the week? If you’re going to be needin’ me to make you pancakes then you’re gonna have to supply me the batter ‘cause I’m a momma on a budget. Does not help that Madison has the biggest appetite for a two year old I’ve ever seen.” Granted, Madison wasn’t human and had a faster metabolism than any child Valentina had met prior but goodness she was going to empty her mothers wallet far faster than she could make money. His words were only met with a sweet smile as she shook her head, “I don’t really have many secrets. Everyone in town knows my ex-boyfriend ditched me with a baby and I ain’t got much else goin’ on. --And your pack is supposed to be more chaotic and yet here you are.” Folding her arms over her chest, the younger woman only scrunched her nose, “You act like I’m trying to get with you when I’m just stating my opinion. My brothers older than you and I don’t even think he’s old. Think of it as a compliment.”

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SAMANTHA‌

Returning the smile as a simple gesture to reassure , as the other woman talked she straightened the few things in her cart that had tipped over. Unknowingly feeding into her own habit of needing everything in order. It’s a reason why she thrives at the library. “I can give you a few names and numbers if you’d like, I tutor a few older kids and they are sweet. One babysits her siblings I know.” Offering, having really taken in the woman before her she recognized the daughter once her eyes settled on the girl. “Madison right? I don’t know if we officially met sorry- I’m Sammy I read to the kids on tuesdays and Thursday at the library.” She stopped herself from sticking out her hand realizing the brunettes hands were already busy. “Oh give it fifteen minutes they will all be cleared out. They all have the same schedule and it’s almost two thirty - that’s when the little ones get out but the buses still have to get the high schoolers and after school practices run till four.”

She was always looking for recommendations for babysitters so the fact that the other woman was offering made her perk up almost instantly, “That would be actually perfect! I do my best to put out little fliers in places where I know that people’ll see them lookin’ for a quick buck but... sometimes said quick buck never seems to be enough.” Upon hearing her name, Madison looked up from where her head rested against her mothers shoulder, a bright smile tugging on her lips as she said a very cheery hello! accompanied by a little wave as she recognized the woman. “Oh my goodness, hi! It’s so lovely to meet you, I’m Valentina. Maddie’s always saying how you’re the bestest reader but I’ve never really had the chance to actually introduce myself.” The fact that Sammy seemed to know the way things ran better than her was almost impressive but Val figured she’d learn when Madison was a bit older and actually in school. “I’m almost getting depressed thinking about the fact that in a few years that’s going to be me. For like... a whole fifteen years. But in a way, it’s reassuring considering these loons can manage just fine and I’m fairly sane by comparison.” For now.

[valcntinaochoa]

41-45 :)

41. where would they want to live if they could live anywhere? why?

If she could live anywhere in the world, Valentina’s first choice will always be Venice, Italy. She’s always wanted to take the chance to travel around Europe but there’s something about the beauty and culture of Venice that would always draw her attention. Maybe live on a villa if she was lucky enough and met a person with a villa. Or she’d bust her ass working until she could have her own villa. Just somewhere where Madison can run around and enjoy the simple things. 

42. are they happy in their current living situation? why or why not?

Valentina has no complaints. She has a very cute two home that she rents for her and her daughter which took her ages to pick considering she wanted somewhere that had a lot of room but wasn’t too expensive. She got the home when she was eight months pregnant so a lot of it was caused by her need to have a place where Madison could play and just enjoy being a kid. It gets a little lonely at times since she doesn’t talk to her neighbors but she couldn’t ask for a better roommate than her daughter. 

43. do they like living alone or with another person / other people?

She lives with her daughter, Madison. Occasionally, her siblings will come through now and again; occasionally spending a night or two when Val needs the company when studying but don’t live with her. She’ll also have friends over now and again but they don’t live with her. When Madison gets a little older, she plans to move to a bigger home so maybe then she’d think of getting a roommate. But that’s a nightmare for another day. 

44. did they go to college, or are they attending? did / do they like it?

She did! She actually started taking college level courses when she was a senior in high school which helped jump start her college path as she went on to major in biochemistry at northwestern university. finishing earlier than most, she took her time in picking a place where she could go to medical school after receiving several acceptances even tho in that time she fell pregnant. yet, valentina had her baby and after a year, she was off to medical school while her parents helped her take care of madison as she got used to things. to this day, she doesn’t hate it and does her best to see the positives even if it makes her feel like it’s sucking the life out of her.

45. what’s their dream job / profession? do they have one?

Valentina’s dream job is to be a Pediatric Oncologist. Her heart has always gone to children but now that she’s a mom and knows what it’s like to see your child suffer (even if Madison has never had more than the common cold). She wants to do everything in her power to help rid other parents of the pain they feel as they watch their child suffer. For now, she just works at her fathers auto shop picking up phones when she’s not busy dying thanks to medical school. 

[valcntinaochoa]

SAMANTHA‌

  A rarity for her to actually go grocery shopping, the brunette tended to buy what she needed and grow what she could. The attempted garden in her back was lacking greatly with love, finding her couch all too tempting. She was zoning out on the smores cereal box, thinking if it was really the best idea to waste her money.  The thoughts near enough to cause her to miss the small collision with her cart. Glancing over her eyes widen momentarily. “What? No-no you’re good.” She waved her hands moving her cart out of the way. “Seems like you have your hands full,” Letting out a small laugh. “I know what you mean, I think it’s prime time for the stepfords.” 

The way the woman seemed to take it like a common occurrence made Valentina’s face relax into a gentle smile as she made sure to grip the cart handle so that it wouldn’t roll anywhere and bump an angrier shopper. “Oh, definitely full. But that’s what happens when your baby sitter cancels even if it is my fault for thinking a sixteen year old girl could be responsible,” she expressed, shrugging her shoulders. Madison was a friendly girl who was easy to please and yet? Nothing seemed to stick. “You’d think they’d be at home worryin’ about the fact that their kids need to be picked up from soccer practice. I desperately hope that I never act like that when I’m older.”

[valcntinaochoa]

LAUREL

don’t notice me, don’t notice me, don’t notice me…

‘ laurel, sweetheart ! ’ shit. wetting dry lips, laurel plasters on the best, tight-lipped smile she could muster. ❝ hi, mrs. wright, ❞ the journalist greets the old lady with a clenched jaw. mrs. wright. laurel’s surprised to see her. she thought the old hag would be six feet under by now. with her alcohol, smoking and gossiping addictions, laurel was certain she would have kicked the bucket by now. that’s a lot of damn stress for one’s heart. ❝ it’s such a surprise to see you. almost like seeing a ghost ! ❞ jovial, yet, very fake laughter is pushed past stretched lips. get it? because mrs. wright looks like a ghost. and should be dead. she has to be over ninety by now. the older woman doesn’t catch laurel’s funny and admittedly mean greeting and instead, begins to ask question after question after question about laurel’s mother, how she’s doing, how laurel is doing, what she’s doing now that she’s back home. ugh ! the horror ! for a journalist, she really fucking hated being asked intrusive questions.

mrs. wright, now going off about how expensive the yams are these days, laurel takes this as she chance to start backing away from the elder with swift steps, she would have been able to slip away perfectly - if she was watching where she was going. instead, laurel was so focused on mrs. wright catching her disappearing act that she wasn’t paying the least bit attention to the woman coming around the corner, thus, colliding cart and shopping basket with a harsh sound metal crash.

with a short, surprised yelp, laurel sprins around to see just who she accidentally collided into ; a young woman with an even younger little girl at her side. a small smile is pulled at laurel’s lips. they were both kinda adorable. ❝ hey, it’s fine. it’s fine. ❞ laurel waves a hand in dismissal. it really wasn’t that big of a deal. no one was hurt and no groceries were ruined, all in all, laurel would say the situation could have been a lot worse. ❝ you have a whole human gripped to you like a spider-monkey. meanwhile, most people are racing each other to the pop tart aisle. i think you get a pass. ❞ adjusting the basket on her arm, laurel is then able to gesture over to the mrs. wright who was now playing close attention to the tomatoe aisle. ❝ besides. you saved about an hour and a half of my life, so, thank you. ❞

The noise the older woman made only caused Valentina to bite her lip as she did her best to move the shopping cart and avoid the stares of people that were walking past them doing their shopping. Mental note; only go grocery shopping when it’s early and everyone is still asleep. Makes life so much easier. Madison, however, was focused on the older woman as she pointed towards her and looked at her mom, “She’s pretty, mami.” An innocent observation but Val was gently bringing down her hand as she mumbled a soft, “What did I say about pointing, Maddie?”

Before turning to the woman herself, “I honestly don’t understand why people are even acting this way. I swear this one woman saw me grab a bundle of bananas since Maddie was getting a bit snackish and she looked at me like I was some psycho since I took the last good one that wasn’t all bruised.” Following to where the woman had gestured, Val soon found herself nodding her head in understanding, “Oh my god, tell me about it. Every time she sees Madison she wants to pinch her cheeks and I refuse to let her near her each time. Very sweet lady but... she’s a lot to handle.”

[valcntinaochoa]

ALEXIOS‌

“Baby Ochoa dealing with a baby of her own, I live for the irony.” He commented casually, quirking his eyebrow at her in amusement. He didn’t exactly think she was here for an early morning drink, it didn’t seem like her style. “Well, I hope you made her those mickey mouse shaped pancakes.” At her question, Alexios allowed his mind to recall the staff rota sheet, nodding slowly a moment or so later, “I believe he is. But he won’t be here until around two. Why? I didn’t know you to were friends.” Grinning, he teased her further, “Am I too old now to ask about your crushes?”

"You’d know all about irony, wouldn’t you, Lexi?” She questioned back with a little tilt of the head and an innocent smile on her lips. You’d think she’d hold some kind of respect for one of the alphas in town but she had none except for Carmen. And even then, she respected them as a sibling, not an alpha. It felt weird to think of them otherwise. “Obviously I made them and I even added chocolate chips and fresh strawberries. My baby ain’t gonna starve or be sad ‘cause her mami is a little tired.” She loved Madison, more than anything in the world so she would always go above and beyond for her little angel. 

Waiting for his response, the girl was brushing aside a strand of hair as she rolled her eyes and let out a breath, “Of course he’d be here at two in the fucking afternoon,” she mumbled initially before continuing, “There’s a lot of things you don’t know, Lexi, and Dylan and mine’s friendship is one of those things. He normally helps me with my errands and sometimes he watches Maddie for me when I need to study. ---I don’t have a crush on him. He’s cute and very sweet but... I have school and a baby to think of. You’re literally only five years older than me, Alexios, old isn’t exactly a fitting descriptor. I didn’t tell you simply because I don’t want to have things ruined.”

[valcntinaochoa]

CLAYTON‌

It takes a whole lot of conscious effort to temper his expression, in part because he’s not really used to doing it. His father has all sorts of complaints about that, just as he does with loads of things about Clay. How will you ever make a good alpha if you can’t learn to keep the peace? If you can’t fake a smile? If you can’t be genuine with people so they don’t assume the worst of you? Well, apparently his father had never intended to make him alpha in the first place, so none of that stuff really mattered anyway.

This? This matters to him, as loath as he might be to admit it.

“Right, sorry,” he says, affecting a sheepish grin that is only a little bit of a lie. Damn his father, he can be cheerful or charming or whatever when he wants to be. “I’ve had quite a day. The important bit is that I broke my phone and overslept and missed my lunch with your sibling- would you mind terribly reaching out to Carmen to let them know what’s going on? I’d find another way to call but I, er. Don’t have their number memorized.”

Leaning over the handle of the cart, Valentina gently pressed a kiss to Madison’s head as she lifted the phone for her mother to look with a faint like ‘mami?’ Looking down at the screen, the woman was quick to change the app to Disney Plus since she’d clearly disappointed the little girl with her original choice. Now, she was fully immersed as her little finger clicked on Toy Story and her little legs swung happily. All while Val eyed the man across from her. “You should invest in an Otterbox if it’s that easy for you to break your phone. I recommend the ones they have in collab with Popsockets since those are sleek but don’t give,” she expressed with a minor shrug of the shoulders. 

It wasn’t uncommon knowledge what the man in front of her had with her older sibling but despite being younger; Valentina couldn’t help but be protective of them. Chalk it up to the fact that she trusted no man after Xavier had ditched three months pregnant. “As much as I would love to do that, I think it’s not gonna be possible considering that would involve taking the phone away from Maddie and I can’t have her throwing a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store. Let alone to talk to her auntie since she’d hoard the phone the moment she knows it’s Carmen” She paused, looking down at her apple watch as she looked through her contacts, “But I can give you her number if you got a pen.”

[valcntinaochoa]